Construction (and gold-dusted brick) watch: 196 Orchard St.

An EVG reader who had been away for a little while wrote in to discuss Ben Shaoul’s in-progress condoplex on East Hosuton between Ludlow and Orchard.

Per the reader: “Jesus — that is a monstrosity over Katz’s.”

Anyway, here are a few photos from Sunday showing the progress at the 11-story 196 Orchard St., which will include an Equinox in the retail space… it’s nearly bricked all the way up — with windows too…

As for those bricks (as noted before), the developers allegedly went a long way for them…

Back in late January, Architectural Digest took a look-see at the project and heard from Adam Rolston, creative and managing director at INC. Architecture & Design.

“We felt that a traditional glass structure didn’t mesh with the surroundings,” says Rolston, who looked for a material humble enough to belong in the neighborhood that had been home to waves of immigrants over decades, but luxurious enough to attract a contemporary resident.

He found such a candidate in artisanal Spanish bricks infused with gold dust that will gradually oxidize and become darker over time. Produced by the 130-year-old manufacturer Cerámica La Covadonga, the bricks form the instantly recognizable lower exterior building façade and were flown in from the Spanish village of Cadaqués (also known for its anchovies, and a source of inspiration to the painter Salvador Dalí). They symbolize the eclectic and transformational nature of the neighborhood.

And…

Sixty-thousand bricks were used for the building, each infused with 24K-gold dust.